Stylus Singles Jukebox

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

http://www.stylusmagazine.com/feature.php?ID=1758

A somewhat uncontroversial week, I'm disappointed to be honest that the Bananarama won it, it's adequate but not much else, very much someone wanting a "Cant Get You Out Of My Head" of their own, and it sounds a bit dated to me.

I'm quite pleased that the SSJ has recruited a real actual rockist too who will give good records zero.

(A 9 for Bonnie Prince Billy from Mr. Macpherson? Anyone would think he was indie or something!)

Comments

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

I'd say that this 'alternative' stuff also has a lot more tendencies to co-opt grassroots genres like folk and country, too, and this is why it can be quite horrific when done badly but Actually Properly Good when done well.

in other words there's far less of the retro-rock'n'roll crap and prostation before The Q/NME Canon Of Rock which makes most (British) indie so bad.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

But isn't drawing on these "grassroots genres" another retro-genuflection, one even further back. (Deeper Magic from before the Dawn Of Pop - there's a pre-rock canon just as surely as there's a rock one).

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

It is, definitely, but a) it sounds nicer, b) there's a deeper well of stuff to rip off draw upon, c) the original sources are less familiar, d) possibly irrelevant but less irritating media coverage.

[zenith.livejournal.com]

Also, e) "It's so good to hear actual human beings playing actual instruments, not straitjacketed by click track or submerged under a flood of studio syrup." ;)

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

If ever a man needed the tender touch of Jacques Lu Cont it's Will Oldham.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

I'm currently fantasising about electrohouse remixes of Joanna Newsom at the moment!